Catherine Ringer

Biography

Catherine Ringer (French: [katʁin ʁɛ̃ʒe]; 18 October 1957 – 14 September 2026) was a French singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, dancer, choreographer, actress, pornographic performer, and co-founder of the pop rock group Les Rita Mitsouko. She was the daughter of French artist Sam Ringer. She was also the lead vocalist for Plaza Francia Orchestra where she performed with Eduardo Makaroff and Christoph H. Müller, formerly of Gotan Project.

Life and career

Ringer started her professional career on stage in the late 1970s in productions with Michael Lonsdale's Théâtre de Recherche Musicale as well as musical and dance productions. In 1976, she met the Argentine dancer and choreographer Marcia Moretto with whom she studied and also performed in various venues in Paris. The hit song "Marcia Baïla" was written as a tribute to Moretto after her death in 1981.
In 1979, she met Fred Chichin with whom she founded and co-led the music group Les Rita Mitsouko. Ringer continued leading the group after Chichin's death in November 2007.

Following the release of the 2010 Gotan Project album Tango 3.0, Ringer teamed up with members Eduardo Makaroff and Christoph H. Müller to create Plaza Francia, now known as Plaza Francia Orchestra for their 7 April 2014 release A New Tango Song Book. The album was met with critical acclaim and was a commercial success in France and Belgium.
Ringer died in Paris on 14 September 2026, at the age of 68, from cancer.

Albums

2011: Ring n' Roll
2014: A New Tango Song Book (with Plaza Francia)
2017: Chroniques et Fantaisies

Singles

1988: Qu’est-Ce Que T’es Belle (featuring Marc Lavoine)
1997: Eso es el amor
1998: Doux Daddy
2008: Parle plus bas (featuring Mauro Gioia)
2010: Les Bohémiens
2010: L'Adèle
2011: Quel est ton nom
2011: Pardon
2011: Vive l'amour
2012: Prends-moi
2012: Punk 103
2014: La Mano Encima (with Plaza Francia)
2014: Secreto (with Plaza Francia)
2014: Idées noires (featuring Bernard Lavilliers)

Joint/collaborative singles

1995: "Peut-être ce soir" (from the album Roots by Coba)
1998: "Rendez-Vous" (from the album Conscious Posi by Coba)
1998: "Sa raison d'être" (from the album Ensemble, AIDS charity)
1998: "Paranoïa" (from the album Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Doc Gyneco)
2002: "Tawes" (from the album "Uni-vers-elles" by Djura)
2004: "La bohême" duo with Corneille (CD and DVD)
2005: "Maudie" (from the album "Le Pavillon Des Fous" de Thomas Fersen)
2008: "Parle plus bas" (with Mauro Gioia) (2008)

Albums

1984: Rita Mitsouko
1986: The No Comprendo
1988: Marc & Robert
1990: Re (Compilation)
1993: Système D
1996: Acoustiques (Live)
2000: Cool Frénésie
2001: Le Bestov (Compilation)
2002: La Femme Trombone
2004: Essentiel (Compilation)
2004: En concert avec l'Orchestre Lamoureux (Live)
2007: Variety

With Plaza Francia Orchestra

2014: A New Tango Song Book
2018: Plaza Francia Orchestra

Soundtracks for films

1985: Vagabond
1986: Nuit d'ivresse
1987: Keep Your Right Up
1988: Kung Fu Master
1988: 36 Fillette
1989: Slaves of New York
1990: Tatie Danielle
1991: Les Amants du Pont-Neuf
1993: My Favorite Season
1995: The Three Brothers
1995: The Apprentices
1997: Le cousin
1997: Sinon, oui
1998: Un grand cri d'amour
1998: White Lies
1999: Belle maman
2001: The Pornographer
2001: A Hell of a Day
2005: L'anniversaire
2007: The Witnesses
2007: La tête de maman
2009: Korkoro
2010: The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec
2022: Les Cadors